Romney rebuffed on health proposal

[Judi Lynn]

Romney rebuffed on health proposal
Bid rejected to cut employers' fees
By Frank Phillips, Globe Staff | March 15, 2006

Democratic legislative leaders rejected a last-ditch effort yesterday by Governor Mitt Romney and his allies to water down a proposed business assessment that would help pay for a comprehensive healthcare bill, a move that would have rescued Romney from a politically difficult decision on whether to veto the legislation.

Romney allies had hoped to persuade healthcare negotiators to reduce or eliminate a $62-per-worker fee on companies that already provide health insurance to their workers. The bill also would impose a $295-per-employee annual fee on companies that have more than 10 workers and do not provide coverage to their workers.

The governor, who has made a point of opposing tax increases, expressed concern that the Democrats' health plan could be construed as a tax or a broad-based fee rather than an assessment. The Democrats' plan would raise up to $48 million to help pay for what they call near-universal coverage, but Romney wants the business assessment restructured so that it does not raise new revenue, according to four Beacon Hill sources familiar with the negotiations.

The healthcare bill, long sought by Romney and Democratic legislative leaders, would add some heft to his resume in the event he runs for president. Backers say it would eventually provide coverage for most of the state's 500,000 to 600,000 uninsured and would be a ground-breaking program nationally.
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http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/03/15/romney_rebuffed_on_health_proposal/